Newbury BT Openreach workers join in nationwide strike over pay
Newbury-based BT Openreach workers joined with their fellow employees across the country striking over a pay dispute.
Eleven BT Openreach workers were part of a picket line outside the Newbury Telephone Exchange building this morning (Tuesday).
The workers, who are part of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) that also organised last week’s Royal Mail postal strike, were holding union placards that read: “CEOs using Swiss Banks. Workers using Foodbanks.”
One worker from Thatcham, who has worked for BT Openreach for 21 years, said: “None of us want to be on strike. We really don’t, but they have forced us into a corner.”
BT Openreach has imposed a pay rise without the agreement of the CWU, which is the main reason for the strike.
He also said: “It seems to be to divide the workforce as they’re giving everybody a different percentage pay rise.”
Jon Hobson, 42, also from Thatcham, has worked for BT Openreach for 22 years.
He said that BT Openreach staff took a reduced pay rise in 2020 to help the company financially during the pandemic, and were given a cash bonus instead of a pay rise in 2021.
He said: “We’re short of a 6.9 per cent pay rise since 2020 and since the start of the pandemic, which has led us to now.
“With the rate of inflation going up and the fuel prices and everything else, they’ve kind of forced our hand.”
A bulletin from the CWU states that BT made £400m in the first quarter of this financial year, gave £761m to shareholders, and CEO Philip Jansen received a 32 per cent pay rise to £3,460,000 in 2022.
In referral to his CEO’s pay rise, another worker said: “It’s just another kick in the teeth really.”
Workers also took part in strikes last month, but after nothing was resolved in talks, the strikes started again today and will continue tomorrow.
Mr Hobson said: “I don’t see this being the last strike either. I don’t think they’re willing to negotiate whatsoever.
“We’ll just have to keep doing what we’ve got to keep doing.”
Discussing the other recent rail and postal strikes, another striker said: “With the state of the country at the moment, it’s going to get worse.”
